California Biographies
Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo.
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
STOW, SHERMAN PATTERSON
Sherman Patterson Stow spent thirty-six of the best years of his life in the development of the
magnificent property in Goleta known as La Patera Ranch. Coming to Goleta in the spring of
1871 on a visit to his friend, Colonel Hollister, Mr. Stow was attracted by the place and before
he left purchased a tract of a thousand acres adjoining the Hollister Ranch. He built an
attractive home upon it and there settled down to the pleasures of ranch life. He brought the
property up to a splendid state of productiveness during his control of it, developing its every
resource and making it one of the finest properties in the state. When he passed on, the
management of the estate fell into the hands of his son and the same care is being exercised in
its management that marked the life of its original owner.
.
The early life of Sherman P. Stow was an interesting one, but may only be briefly touched upon
here through lack of details. He was born in Binghamton, New York, on November 24, 1851,
and was the son of William Whitney and Ann (Patterson) Stow, both natives of the State of New
York. The family came to California in the year 1852 and the father engaged in the practice of
law in San Francisco, where he spent the remainder of his life.
The son, Sherman P. Stow, carried on his studies under careful supervision until he was sixteen
years of age, then was sent to France and Germany, where he continued his studies until 1870.
He was in Paris at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war and he left the city on the last train
to leave before the siege of Paris.
Not yet twenty years of age, he came to Goleta to pay a visit to a friend, and it was then he
became attracted by the possibilities of ranch life in Santa Barbara County. His father
presented him with a tract of 1,000 acres that seemed especially desirable in the opinion of the
young man, and he settled down to the task of making a valuable estate out of what was then
an undeveloped tract of land. The land was unfenced and not a building of any sort stood upon
it, but the task proved not too great for his abounding energy and ambition.
Building the ranch house was a task that presented many difficulties, chief among them being
the lack of facilities for getting lumber. That obstacle was overcome by floating the lumber
from the steamer to the shore and hauling it about two miles to the building site.
During the first two years of his possession, Mr. Stow planted 11,000 walnut trees and 22,000
almond trees, as well as about 1,500 lemons. The almonds, however, proved unsuited to the
soil, and after a time they were dug up and gave place to trees that were more grateful for the
attentions bestowed upon them. For many years the place has yielded abundantly, making a
splendid return upon the investment made by its owners in money and labors.
Perhaps the most interesting feature connected with the development of this splendid property
is its water system, which is generally acknowledged to be one of the most complete and
satisfactory to be found anywhere. It represents a cash outlay of about $35,000, and the water
used in irrigating the ranch is piped down the mountains a distance of about three miles. This
plant insures the ranch abundant water at all seasons of the year, the ranch being its own water
company and not dependent upon the caprices of any organization of men. The system is in
itself very similar to the plants used by the cities for distribution purposes and is a feature that
has gone far to make the ranch the big financial success it has been.
After Mr. Stow's death in August, 1907, his son, Sherman H., took over the management of the
property. He followed largely the intensive methods and the production was increased very
materially in the brief time he was in charge. When he died in 1915 another son, Edgar W.,
took charge and is now in command at the ranch.
Mr. Sherman P. Stow., in addition to his many duties as operator of one of the largest
properties in the county, found time to take an interest in outside matters, and for years he was
president and secretary of the Johnson Fruit Company. He was a member of the Elks and his
religious affiliations were with the Episcopal Church.
He was married on September 10, 1873, in San Francisco, to Ida G. Hollister, the daughter of
John Hubbard and Ellen (Mossman) Hollister. Her father crossed the plains twice in the early
days and was a pioneer of San Luis Obispo County, in which he settled and lived until his death.
The children of Sherman P. and Ida Stow were six in number and are here named briefly as
follows: Sherman H., deceased; Anne; Katherine; Samuel M., living in Manila; Edgar Whitney,
who manages the ranch, and Margaret, who married E. B. Bruce of New York City and Manila.